Chapter 43
*****
Much later that night, after they had dinner with the family, the sounds of the island had settled into the gentle symphony of waves.
She heard the soft creak of her bedroom door.
In the moonlight that streamed through the carved wooden shutters she could make out his silhouette as he slipped inside, barefoot and careful not to wake the twins sleeping in the room next door.
Until the ceremony, she was told by Ashok’s mother that she had to be in the guest wing of the house. For reasons she could not explain, she wanted the twins with her. Ashok didn’t object but she saw the surprise in his eyes.
“Isha,” he whispered, stopping beside her low bed draped with mosquito netting. “You awake?”
She smiled in the dim light and patted the space next to her. “Yes, I am. Come sit.”
“I won’t be long. I came to give you this.” He held a small box out.
She took it from his hand and shook it, curiously. “What is this?”
He chuckled. “Don’t get too excited. It’s just a phone.”
“Why do I need another phone?”
“The cellular coverage here is spotty. Just back up in case you need to reach me.”
She didn’t need her phone as much as she didn’t really talk to anyone other than her cousin and her aunt. All others either communicated with her over email or video conference meetings. She opened the box and took the phone out. “How do I use this?”
“Let’s step outside,” he whispered, gesturing to her to follow him. “There’s something else we need to talk about too.”
She gathered the thin robe and slipped it over her t-shirt. She didn’t see the need to put on a bra as it was pretty dark outside. He closed her bedroom door softly behind her as they stepped into the large balcony off of her space.
“There is something I need to prepare you for. There are a few ceremonies being lined up for us to perform. Traditions that haven’t been skipped in generations.”
She felt a flutter of nervousness mixed with intrigue. “What kind of ceremonies?”
“The first one tomorrow night. You’ll be taken to the sacred lagoon at sunset by the elder women of the island. It’s beautiful, but also... intense. You’ll be alone with them for hours.”
“Who else will be there with me? I take it you are not going.”
He nodded. “My sisters will be there and Aravinda will lead it. As my elder sister, and the rising Chieftain, it’s her responsibility to determine if the waters accept you.” He paused, choosing his words carefully. “Nothing you can’t handle.”
The weight of it settled over her like the humidity in the night air. It wasn’t just about convincing Aravinda but she wanted to perform the ceremony with genuine interest and attention. “I’ll do my best.”
Time passed without either of them saying anything, the sound of waves crashing on the shore at a distance.
“It’s so beautiful here. I’m sure Sami and you missed being away from here.” She knew the pain of not being with family.
He didn’t say anything but only looked out into the ocean. The silence killed her and felt guilty about saying what she said.
She approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Sorry, I–”
“Kiss me,” he said quietly, his voice carrying a note of playful conspiracy.
“I suspect Aravinda has eyes on us right now.” He moved his face closer to hers, his breath warm on her cheek.
“She’s been watching us all day, analyzing every glance, every gesture.
I think she’s trying to figure out if what we have is real. ”
If it was the attraction, it was definitely real!
She went up on her toes, the thin material of her robe catching the breeze from the ocean. “And a kiss would convince her?” she asked, though her body was so close to him, drawn by the warmth in his eyes.
“Yes,” he murmured, his hands finding her waist and pulling her closer until there was no space between them. “She needs to see that we can’t help ourselves around each other.”
Their lips met somewhat, gentle at first, then deepening as the moment of bliss overwhelmed them both. His hands tangled in her hair, while hers pressed against his chest, feeling the rapid beat of his heart.
When they finally broke apart, both breathing unsteadily, he rested his forehead against hers. “There,” he said with a soft laugh, “as long as she wasn’t listening to us. That should convince her that we’re not pretending.”
“And if she was listening?” she whispered, her lips still tingling.
His smile was visible even in the shadows. “Then we’ll find out tomorrow.”
She thought of the sacred lagoon and the rituals and ceremonies she was about to perform the next day. “Will I see you tomorrow?”
He nodded. “I’ll come tomorrow before you leave.” Good night.”
“Why is Aravinda so suspicious?” Isha still could not understand the woman’s reason for suspicion. “Especially since everyone else seems to be convinced.”
Ashok only smiled. “Aravinda knows me best so she is not buying the part where we connected and separated for practical reasons.”
She found it odd that Aravinda would not believe it. “Why? How different would it have been if what we made up was real and we chose to go our own ways?”
Ashok let out a chuckle.
“What’s so funny?” She scrunched her nose.
He only shook his head but did not respond.
Curious about his responses or the lack of, she stepped in front of him to get a good look at him. “Are you going to tell me?”
Ashok held her gaze for a long moment, something mysterious flickering in his dark eyes.
“If you and I connected the way we said we did when Ravi and Sami got married…my sister knows that I would have never let you get away. She knows I would have fought for it and been close to you no matter what it took.”
Her mouth went dry when she heard his words, felt her heart thunder in response to the raw emotion in his voice.
There was something primal in the way he said it, a possessive edge that made her chest tight with an emotion she wasn’t ready to name.
The intensity of his stare made her feel exposed, like he could read her emotions.
As if she lost all control of her actions, she raised her hand to his cheek, her fingers trembling against the rough stubble.
The simple contact sent warmth spreading through her chest .
And it wasn’t the electric heat of desire this time, but something deeper, more terrifying. Something that felt dangerous.
She rose up on her toes, her lips barely grazing his cheek as she whispered, “Good night,” her breath ghosting across his skin.
And as she started to pull away, the full weight of his words hit her.
He would have fought for it, to be with her.
The certainty in his voice, the unwavering conviction that he would have moved heaven and earth to be with her, it cracked something open inside her chest.
What he was referring to went beyond the sheer attraction, the physical need or the thrill of the forbidden desire. It was something very real, something that made her want to be the person he would fight for, the woman worthy of that kind of devotion.
Isha’s hand lingered on his cheek, and she found herself memorizing the way he looked at her. His eyes were hard to read but he looked at her like she was precious, like she mattered in ways that went beyond their heated moments they shared.
“Good night,” she whispered again, but this time the words felt different. Like a promise instead of an ending. Like the beginning of something that scared her more than any kiss ever could.
As she walked away, she could feel his eyes on her. For the first time, she wasn’t thinking about seducing him or getting the attraction out of their systems.
She was thinking about what it would feel like to be the one to receive the affection of a man who would do anything for the woman he irrevocably was in love with to never let her get away.